Indicator mechanism for shafts, &amp; c.



No. 650,480. Patented May 29, I900. J. PLACE.

INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR SHAFTS, 8L6.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 19004) (No Model.)

V UNITED STAT PATENT OFFICE. 1

JOHN PLACE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

INDICATOR MECHANISM Foa 'SHA'FTS, etc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,480, dated May 29, 1900. Application filed February 20, 1900. Serial No. 5,920. (No model.)

T at whom, it mag concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in

the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator Mechanism for Shafts, &c'.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in indicators for shafts, and particularly to that class of indicators which are adapted to show the direction in which a shaft is revolving, as well as to make it possible to calculate the speed of the said shaft.

It consists of a rod or bar adapted to be connected with an eccentric-rod of an engine, so as to be moved back and forth thereby, and means for connecting the same with an indicator, whereby the movement of the eccentric will actuate the indicator in one direction or the other, according to the movement of the engine and the shaft actuated thereby.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical'section through a portion of a vessel and a shaft, showing the manner ofconnectin g a bar with an eccentric-rod. Fig.2 represents a side elevation of my indicating device, the means for supporting the same being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the reciprocating bar. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the pin-block or slide used in connection with the said bar, and Fig. 6 represents the actuating=pin adapted to be clamped to an eccentric-rod.

My improved indicator is well adapted for use in connection with engine-shafts, but is particularly well adapted for indicating the direction of propeller-shafts upon vessels.

In the drawings I have shown my indicating mechanism connected up with an eccentric-rod of a marine engine.

1 in the drawings is a propeller-shaft; 2, an eccentric secured thereto 5 3, an eccentric-rod, and 4 a reciprocating bar or bolt. The bar 4 is preferably made in two sections adapted to be clamped together; but, as seen at 5, the main portions of the said sections are Preferably square, so as to engage correspondinglysquared bearings, as at 6 6, formed at the lower ends of supporting-hangers 7 7. By thus mounting the bar loosely in the bearings 6 the bar is free to reciprocate endwise, but cannot turn so as to rotate in the said bearings. The clamping portions at 5 in the center of the bar 4 are made sufficiently large to permit an elongated slot 8 to be formed between them, the ends of the-said clamping sections being bolted together beyond the ends of the slot 8. An actuating-pin, as 9,

is adapted to be secured to the eccentric-rod 3, preferably by means of a clamp, as 10, one member of the said clamp carrying the, said pin 9. The pin engages a bearing, as 11, formed in the block or slide 12, adaptedto move in the elongated slot 8. is provided with a flange upon each side, as at 18, so that when the sections of the bar 4 are bolted together around the said block 12 it will be movably held in place in the slot 8. This connection between the bar 4 and the eccentric-rod 3 permits the eccentric-rod to move vertically with respect to the said bar, and yet the connection is such that the bar 4 will be reciprocated endwise by the lateral movement of the eccentric-rod. The eccentric-rod may be of any desired kind, but is usually of that type used in marine engines which engages a shifting link, as 14, so that the eccentric may be operated to change the valves of the engine, and therebyits direction, by moving the link from one side to the other. Of course by moving the link the rod will be moved correspondingly and will carry the bolt 4 with it. The bolt 4 is preferably connected up with an indicator, and its movement is shown by the position of the said indicator. In connecting the bolt with the said indicator it is preferable to provide the end of the bolt with eyes, as 15, which maybe connected, by means of rods, wires, or cables, as 16, with bell-crank levers, as 17, pivotally mounted, as at 18. A cable or rope 9 may be run from each of the bell-cranks 17 about guide-pulleys 20 and connected with a segmentfas 21, secured to the lower end of an indicator-shaft 22. The indicator-shaft 22 preferably ex- The block 12'- tends upward through the floors or decks of a Vessel and carries at its upper enda pointer, as 23, which travels over an indicating-dial 24. Suitable indications on the said dial will show whether the vessel is moving afiiad or astern or whether the machinery is not running at all. If desired, the indicator-shaft may be provided with a second segment, as 25, which is connected, by means of wires or cords 26 26, with bells 27 27. These bells are preferably made of different tones, so that the direction of the shaft 1 may be told by means of the sound of the bells.

It will be apparent from the above de-'' scription that my indicating mechanism-is- Very simple in' construction, that it may be adapted to any marine engine employing eecentric-rods, and that not only can the direction in which the engine is propelling the vessel instantly be told by looking at the indicator or by listening to the bells, but the speed of the engine may be quickly calculated by counting the number of movements of the indicator-point per minute or per hour.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. An indicator for shaftiug, comprising a reciprocating bar, a sliding connection joining the said bar with the rod of an eccentric, the construction being such that the said rod may move longitudinally and yet not deflect said bar from its path and means for con necting the said bar with an indicating mechanism, whereby the movement of the eccentric will correspondingly actuate the bar and indicator, substantially as described.

2. An indicator for propeller-shafts, comprising a reciprocating bar, means for conmeeting the said bar with an eccentric-rod of the said propeller-shaft, comprising a movable block pivotally secured to the said eccentric-rod and moving in a slot formed in the reciprocating bar, and means for conmeeting the said'bar with indicating means, the construction being such that the movementor the eccentric-rod will correspondingly actuate the indicating mechanism so as to reveal the direction in which the shaft is moving, substantially as described.

3. a An indicator for propeller-shafts, comprising a reciprocating bar formed in sections, the meeting ends of the said sections be ing adapted to be secured together so as to form an elongated slot between them, a block n'iovablymounted in the said slot, a pin en gaging the said block, means for clamping the said pin to the eccentric-rod of a marine engine, means for movably supporting the said bar so that it may move longitudinally, and means for actuating the said bar with an indicating mechanism, substantially as described.

4. An indicator for the shaft of a marine engine, comprising a reciprocating bar, a pivotpin secured to the eccentric-rod of the said engine, a block engaging the said pin, a reciprocating bar having an elongated slot adapted to engage the said block, flanges on the said block for movably holding the said block in the slot, eyes in the end of the said rod, cords for connecting the eyes with bellcranks, cords for connecting the bell-cranks with a segment of an indicator-shaft,a pointer carried by the indicator-shaft and moving over a suitable dial, the construction being such that the direction of the engine may be indicated by the pointer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PLACE. \Vitncsses:

J AMES; T. WATSON, PHINEAS AYER. 

